• Mobile Resources
• Contact Us
• A-Z Index
• FAQs
• Español
• Additional Languages

• Home
• Plan & Prepare
• Recover & Rebuild
• Apply for Assistance
• Disasters & Maps
• FEMA Audiences
• About FEMA
• News & Media

Numerical Models Meeting the Minimum Requirement of NFIP

Current Nationally Accepted Coastal Models

• Coastal Models
• View More Nationally Accepted Models
• Locally Accepted Models
• Numerical Models No Longer Accepted

Coastal Models

Coastal Models

PROGRAM	DEVELOPED BY	AVAILABLE FROM	COMMENTS
Coastal Storm Surges
FEMA Surge (1988)	Tetra Tech, Inc.; Engineering Methods & Applications; Greenhorne & O'Mara; Camp, Dresser & McKee, Inc.	See the footnote below to find appropriate contact information based on your FEMA Region. (BAKERAECOM, RAMPP, or STARR) 3	Incorporates modified NWS-23 model for hurricanes and Joint Probability Method. Reportedly more accurate for water elevations than water currents. Public Domain: Yes
Advanced Circulation Model (ADCIRC) 2DDI (2003)	Johannes Westerink, University of Notre Dame and Rick Luettich, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Institute of Marine Sciences for USACE Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory	Nick Krauss Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory 3909 Halls Ferry Road Vicksburg, MS 39180-6199 Also can be purchased from software vendors as a component of SWM.	Finite element 2-D hydrodynamic model; the version 2DDI is vertically-integrated and solves a vertically-integrated continuity equation for water surface elevation; no storm or hurricane windfield models or statistical analysis tools are included with model, they must be acquired separately; ADCIRC performs well using Vince Cardone's planetary boundary layer model windfields; statistical analyses using ADCIRC model storm surge simulations are compatible with the USACE Empirical Simulation Technique (EST) as well as joint probability methods. Public Domain: Yes for flood insurance study purposes.
TABS RMA2 v. 4.3 and up (Oct. 1996)	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers	Coastal Engineering Research Center Department of the Army Waterways Experiment Station Corps of Engineers 3909 Halls Ferry Road Vicksburg, MS 39180-6199	Two-dimensional steady/unsteady flow model, for water levels and velocities. Computes finite element solution of the Reynolds form of the Navier-Stokes equations for turbulent flows. Public Domain: Yes
MIKE 21 (HD/NHD) 2009 SP4	DHI Water and Environment	DHI Inc. 319 SW Washington St. Suite 614 Portland, OR 97204	Solves the non-linear depth-averaged equations of continuity and conservation of momentum. Computes water levels and flows based on a variety of forcing functions. Computes wave-driven currents and wave setup. Uses a finite difference grid with dynamic nesting grid capabilities. Resolving small scale features such as narrow inland channels, culverts and control structures can be accomplished using the DHI MIKE FLOOD interface, which allows for dynamic coupling between MIKE 21 and the DHI MIKE 11 model. Public Domain: No
DYNLET	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers	Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory Engineering Research and Development Center 3909 Halls Ferry Road Vicksburg, MS 39180-6199	One-dimensional model of dynamic behavior of tidal flow at inlets. Can be used to predict tide dominated velocities and water level fluctuations at an inlet and interior back bay system. DYNLET solves the full one-dimensional shallow water equations using an implicit finite difference solution. Public Domain: Yes
Coastal Wave Heights
WHAFIS 3.0 (1988) and 4.0 (2007)	Dames & Moore, revised by Greenhorne & O'Mara, revised by Watershed Concepts	See the footnote below to find appropriate contact information based on your FEMA Region. (BAKERAECOM, RAMPP, or STARR) 3	WHAFIS 4.0 has identical wave treatments as WHAFIS 3.0. Additional features include default wind speeds for 0.2-percent-annual-chance winds and the ability for user to override default wind speeds. WHAFIS 3.0 defines wave heights associated with 100-year flood in coastal areas using modern wave action treatment; incorporates 1977 NAS recommendations on basic approximations for wind speeds, wave breaking criterion, and controlling wave height. Public Domain: Yes
WHAFIS 3.0 GL (1993)	Dames & Moore, Greenhorne & O'Mara, Dewberry	See the footnote below to find appropriate contact information based on your FEMA Region. (BAKERAECOM, RAMPP, or STARR) 3	Identical wave treatments as WHAFIS 3.0, but with programmed reduction of wind speeds for U.S. shorelines of the Great Lakes. Public Domain: Yes
RCPWAVE (1986)	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers	Coastal Engineering Research Center Department of the Army Waterways Experiment Station Corps of Engineers 3909 Halls Ferry Road Vicksburg, MS 39180-6199	Treats linear, monochromatic waves propagating over grid giving coastal bathymetry, providing nearshore wave heights pertinent to proper spacing between transects or to magnitudes of wave setup. Public Domain: Yes
CHAMP 2.0 (April 2007)	Dewberry & Davis LLC	See the footnote below to find appropriate contact information based on your FEMA Region. (BAKERAECOM, RAMPP, or STARR) 3	Coastal Hazard Analysis Modeling Program (CHAMP) is a Windows-based program used for erosion and wave height analyses (WHAFIS 4.0 and RUNUP 2.0) and provides summary tables and graphics for mapping. Version 2.0 provides for computation of 1-percent- and 0.2-percent-annual-chance wave envelope and includes enhancements to the Erosion and Runup Modules. Public Domain: Yes
MIKE 21 Flexible Mesh Spectral Wave Model 2009 SP4	DHI Water and Environment	DHI Inc. 319 SW Washington St. Suite 614 Portland, OR 97204	Two-dimensional, flexible mesh, finite-volume, dynamic wind-wave growth and nearshore transformation model. The model includes a fully spectral formulation and a directional decoupled parametric formulation, includes wave-current interaction, and includes nearshore effects of refraction, shoaling, breaking, bed friction, and wind-wave growth. The wave model can be dynamically coupled with the MIKE 21 Flexible Mesh Hydrodynamic (FM HD) model so that wave setup is computed directly by the HD model. The model must be calibrated to observed flow and stage records or high-water marks of actual flood events at both channel and floodplain. Public Domain: No
MIKE 21 Nearshore Spectral Wave Model (NSW) 2009 SP4	DHI Water and Environment	DHI Inc. 319 SW Washington St. Suite 614 Portland, OR 97204	Two-dimensional stationary model for propagation of waves into the nearshore zone (refraction, shoaling, breaking, bed friction, and wind-wave growth). Based on the conservation equation for the spectral wave action density similar to HISWA model. Obstructions not directly resolvable in the grid must be modeled with grid bed roughness coefficients. The model must be calibrated to observed flow and stage records or high-water marks of actual flood events at both channel and floodplain. Public Domain: No
Simulating Waves Nearshore (SWAN), Cycle III Version 40.51	The SWAN team, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands.	Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Environmental Fluid Mechanics Section, P.O. Box 5048, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands.	Fully spectral third-generation shallow water wave model based on the wave action balance equation with sources and sinks. It incorporates formulations for deep water processes of wave generation, dissipation and the quadruplet wave-wave interactions. In shallow water, these processes are supplemented with formulations for dissipation due to bottom friction, triad wave-wave interactions, and depth-induced breaking. The model is stationary and optionally non-stationary, and can be applied in Cartesian, spherical, and curvilinear co-ordinates. Public Domain: Freeware
Coastal Wave Effects
RUNUP 2.0 (1990)	Stone & Webster Engineering Corp., revised by Dewberry	See the footnote below to find appropriate contact information based on your FEMA Region. (BAKERAECOM, RAMPP, or STARR) 3	Executes 1978 guidance by USACE defining wave runup on shore barrier with specified approach and storm conditions; mean wave description determines mean runup elevation. Public Domain: Yes
ACES 1.07 (1992)	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers	Coastal Engineering Research Center Department of the Army Waterways Experiment Station Corps of Engineers 3909 Halls Ferry Road Vicksburg, MS 39180-6199	Used for restricted fetch wave growth analysis and runup on vertical structures or revetments. Public Domain: Yes
CHAMP 2.0 (April 2007)	Dewberry & Davis LLC	See the footnote below to find appropriate contact information based on your FEMA Region. (BAKERAECOM, RAMPP, or STARR) 3	CHAMP is a Windows-based program used for erosion and wave height analyses (WHAFIS 4.0 and RUNUP 2.0) and provides summary tables and graphics for mapping. Version 2.0 provides for computation of 1-percent- and 0.2-percent-annual-chance wave envelope and includes enhancements to the Erosion and Runup Modules. Public Domain: Yes

¹ Public domain models are available from source with nominal fee for reproducing, shipping and handling.

² This model is acceptable for coastal storm surge applications only.

³ The appropriate contact for this software depends on your region:

If you live in Region 1 (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
STARR Regional Service Center 1
One Cambridge Place
50 Hampshire Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
RSC 1 Lead: Laura Keating
Laura.Keating@starr-team.com
(617) 452-6336

If you live in Region 2 (NJ, NY, PR, VI)
RAMPP Regional Service Center 2
15 East 26th St, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10010-1505
RSC 2 Lead: Andrew Martin
amartin@dewberry.com
Cell (202) 379-6456
Office (212) 685-0900

If you live in Region 3 (DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV)
RAMPP Regional Service Center 3
8 Penn Center, 21st Floor
1628 John F. Kennedy Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19103
RSC 3 Lead: Marc Radell
marc_radell@urscorp.com
(215) 681-9032

If you live in Region 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN)
BakerAECOM Regional Service Center 4
2835 Brandywine Road, Ste 200
Atlanta, GA 30341
RSC 4 Lead: Stephen King
sjking@mbakercorp.com
(678) 459-1004

If you live in Region 5 (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI)
STARR Regional Service Center 5
125 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 600
Chicago, IL 60606,
RSC 5 Lead: Mike Anderson
Mike.Anderson@starr-team.com
(312) 780-7710

If you live in Region 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX)
RAMPP Regional Service Center 6
c/o Dewberry
723 South Interstate 35E, Suite 230
Denton, TX 76205
RSC 6 Lead: Corey Garyotis
Corey_Garyotis@URSCorp.com
(904) 735-3342

If you live in Region 7 (IA, KS, MO, NE)
STARR Regional Service Center 7
6800 College Blvd, Suite 380
Overland Park, KS 66211
RSC 7 Lead: William Zung
Will.Zung@starr-team.com
Office: (913) 498-0500
Cell: (816) 518-5409
Fax: (913) 498-0511

If you live in Region 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY)
BakerAECOM Regional Service Center 8
355 Union Boulevard, Suite 200
Lakewood, CO 80228-6509
RSC 8 Lead: David Jula
djula@mbakercorp.com
(720) 514-1101

If you live in Region 9 (AZ, CA, GUAM, HI, NV, CNMI, RMI, FSM, SAMOA)
BakerAECOM Regional Service Center 9
505 14th Street, Suite 810
Oakland, CA 94612
RSC 9 Lead: Michael Skowronek
mskowronek@mbakercorp.com
(510) 879-0958

If you live in Region 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA)
STARR Regional Service Center 10
901 5th Avenue, Suite 3100
Seattle, WA 98164
RSC 10 Lead: Dave Carlton
Dave.Carlton@starr-team.com
(206) 682-1159

Back To Top

View More Nationally Accepted Models

• Hydrologic Models Meeting the Minimum Requirement of NFIP
• Statistical Models Meeting the Minimum Requirement of NFIP
• Hydraulic Models Meeting the Minimum Requirement of NFIP

Back To Top

Locally Accepted Models

• Coastal Models Meeting the Minimum Requirement of NFIP
• Hydraulic Models Meeting the Minimum Requirement of NFIP
• Hydrologic Models Meeting the Minimum Requirement of NFIP

Back To Top

Numerical Models No Longer Accepted

• Numerical Models No Longer Accepted by FEMA for NFIP Usage

Back To Top

Last Modified: Thursday, 24-Feb-2011 12:19:27 EST